Step deck dispatch for freight too tall for a flatbed
A step deck earns its keep on loads that would be over height on a flatbed. Our step deck dispatchers find that tall freight, check the clearance before you commit, and negotiate a rate that pays for the lower deck.
Does the higher rate cover the higher trailer payment?
Step decks and Conestogas usually cost more than a plain flatbed and often pay more per mile. Enter the three trailer payments and the extra rate you expect over flatbed, and see the monthly difference after the fee. Then check a load's height against the legal limit on your route.
Trailer upgrade
Step deck vs flatbed, a month
+$705
Conestoga vs flatbed, a month
+$1,688
Clearance check
13.00 ft total: 0.50 ft under
EXAMPLE payments and rate premiums. There is no single federal height limit; each state sets its own, so check every state on the route.
The rate premiums in the sheet are assumptions. On the first call we look at what step deck and Conestoga loads pay around your home base right now.
Step deck vs flatbed: when each one wins
| Flatbed | Step deck | |
|---|---|---|
| Freight height | Lower, because the deck sits higher | Taller freight on the lower deck |
| Typical freight | Steel, lumber, pipe, building materials | Machinery, equipment, tall crates |
| Loading | Forklift or crane from any side | Same, plus ramps on some trailers for drive-on loads |
| Trailer cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Conestoga option | Yes, on some flatbeds | Yes: a rolling tarp system that skips manual tarping |
General comparison. Deck heights and lengths vary by trailer; measure your own.
Height is the whole game
There is no single federal height limit for trucks. Each state sets its own, and many sit at 13 ft 6 in while some allow more. A load that is legal in one state can need a permit in the next, so we check every state on the route before we offer you a tall load.
On a step deck, the freight sits on the lower deck, which is closer to the ground than a flatbed deck. Measure your own lower deck height and give it to us once. We use it to check every load so you never arrive at a shipper with a load you cannot legally carry.
Oversize loads and permits
When a load is over height or over width even on a step deck, it becomes an oversize move with state permits and sometimes escorts. Some step deck owners want that work and some do not. Tell us which you are, and we book accordingly.
Permit and escort costs are pass-through costs the broker reimburses. See how oversize load dispatch handles them, and compare with flatbed dispatch if you run both trailers.
What our step deck dispatcher handles
Tall freight comes with questions that a van load never raises. We get the answers before you roll:
- Load searches for machinery, equipment and tall crates
- Dimensions and weight checked against your deck heights and the legal limit on each state
- Loading method confirmed: crane, forklift or ramps
- Tarp or Conestoga needs settled before booking
- Permits and escorts coordinated when a load is oversize
- Check calls, delivery confirmations and detention claims
Drive-on freight and ramps
A step deck with ramps can take drive-on equipment such as small loaders, lifts and tractors without a crane at either end. That opens freight from rental yards and equipment dealers that a plain flatbed cannot easily take.
Tell us your ramp length and rating once. We only book equipment your ramps can safely carry, and we confirm the machine's weight with the broker before you commit.
Straight answers for step deck owners
Will you book loads that are over height?
Only as a planned oversize move with permits, and only if you want that work. Otherwise we check every load's height against your lower deck and the limits on the route and pass on anything that will not fit legally.
Can you keep my step deck off flatbed freight?
If you prefer, yes. Step deck owners sometimes take flatbed loads to stay busy. We book the tall freight first and only fill gaps with flatbed loads when you say so.
Questions to ask any step deck dispatcher
Step deck work depends on getting heights right. Ask these before you sign with anyone:
Do you know my deck heights?. They should ask for your upper and lower deck heights before booking anything.
How do you check state height limits?. Every state on the route matters, not just the pickup state.
Do you book drive-on equipment?. Only if you have ramps, and only within their rating.
Who signs the rate con?. You should, in your company name, after you see the dimensions.
What is the fee charged on?. Ask for the exact basis in writing, including how permits and escorts are treated.
Conestoga loads: what changes
A Conestoga trailer uses a rolling tarp system that slides open for loading and closes over the freight. Shippers who want freight covered without manual tarping often prefer it, and the time saved at each stop adds up over a month.
The tarp frame does limit freight height and width, so we check each load against your Conestoga's inside dimensions, not just the deck height.
Securing freight on two levels
A step deck has two deck heights, and freight that spans the step needs careful blocking and securement. Most loads ride entirely on the lower deck or the upper deck for that reason. The cargo securement rules in 49 CFR part 393 apply the same as on a flatbed.
We confirm where the freight will sit and how it will be secured before you accept, so you do not find out at the shipper that the load needs gear or a position your trailer cannot offer.
You decide on every step deck load
- 1Dispatcher finds and negotiates
- 2Broker sends the rate con to you
- 3You sign it, or you say no
We bring you the dimensions, the weight, the loading method and the rate. If you take it, the broker sends the rate con to your email in your company name, and you sign it.
If the clearance is tight or the load needs ramps you do not have, say no. It costs you nothing, and we keep looking.
Step deck dispatch pricing
7% of gross while your MC is under 6 months, 5% for one truck and 4% for two or more. A Conestoga pays the same percentage as an open step deck.
No setup fee, no minimum and no long contract. See the pricing page.
- 7%MC under 6 months, any fleet size
- 5%1 truck, MC 6+ months
- 4%2+ trucks on one MC, MC 6+ months
- Of gross load revenue. No setup fee, no minimums, month-to-month, 30 days notice, no haul no pay.
Step deck and Conestoga dispatch questions
Is a Conestoga trailer worth the extra cost?
Do you handle oversize permits?
Do Conestogas get better rates?
Can you dispatch a step deck with ramps?
How much does step deck dispatch cost?
Do I have to take the loads you find?
Book the tall loads your trailer was built for
Tell us your trailer, your deck height and your lanes. A dispatcher calls you back.